Creating a Shadow Demon

**Vamphyr1** · Jan 8th, '12, 10:54 AM

I'm thinking of running a 250 point supers game for my friends and I'm liking the idea of them having to fight a powerful shadow demon that broke free from a sorcerers summoning ritual. I would probably be running for around 4 people, so I figure I'd have 1000 points or so to work with for the demon to be a match for the whole party.

I was wondering what you would give it for powers/abilities or if you've ever made a shadow demon archetype before. I figure I'll give him basic shadow creation (wall/sphere) claws and a bite, and probably some for of invisibility while in shadows. I need to think about it more, but suggestions and ideas would be wonderful

**Ice9** · Jan 12th, '12, 02:45 PM

Well first off, I'm not sure you want it to be 1000 points - power doesn't go up linearly; a 400-450 point character could be stronger than four 250p ones.
Actually, the important thing when balancing foes is not the point total, its how their stats compare to the PCs.

For example, let's say that your PCs have OCV ranging from 6 to 10. If your demon has DCV 11, then even the most accurate people only hit it half the time, and the less accurate people will need to try a different tactic (like attacking from hiding, or waiting for it to be prone/stunned/blinded so they can hit it). On the other hand, with DCV 6, even the least accurate have a good chance to hit it, and the most accurate will almost always be doing so (which might be fine, if they demon is tough enough to stand it).

So the first step would be to check the PCs stats and see what the range is. You want to be looking at:
OCV / DCV
DEF, STUN, CON (to see how powerful a hit would stun them, and how many would KO them)
Average damage they do, whether they have AoE attacks, and what kind of exotic attacks they have.

Also, when making a foe to go up against all the PCs at once, make sure they're not easily "stun-locked". By which I mean, have methods for dealing with tactics like Entangle, Knockback-juggling, Flash, and so forth, so you don't spend the entire fight recovering from conditions while being pummeled. That doesn't mean "be immune to everything" though - ablative defenses are a good way to handle this. For example, a Shadow Demon might be able to tear itself in half, leaving the half that was Hypnotized / Frozen / Cursed / whatever behind and continuing to fight, at the cost of taking significant damage. That way the tactics aren't useless, but they don't immediately end the fight either.

**Ice9** · Jan 12th, '12, 03:01 PM

In terms of ideas, here's some powers that might be suitable:
* Turn to shadow - Desolidification, affected by light-based or holy attacks.
* Meld with someone's shadow and puppet them - Mind Control, requires Total Concentration, +Clinging
* Step into one shadow, come out another - Teleport X", Position Shift, Only to/from Shadowed Locations
* Reach into one shadow, stick hand out another - Stretching X", Does Not Cross Intervening Space, Only to/from Shadowed Locations
* Pin someone's shadow to the floor, they can't move - Entangle, Transparent to Physical Attacks
* Create evil shadow twin - Summon, Expanded Class, Loyal, Requires Target to Create Twin Of
* Stab someone's shadow, they get injured - RKA, Indirect, Invisible Power Effects
* Create a field of obscuring shadows - Change Environment (-X to Sight PER rolls), AoE Radius, Personal Immunity
* Move like a shadow - Flight, Only in Contact with Surface
* Poison bite slowly turns people into shadows - Major Transform, Damage Over Time, Linked to Bite
* Animate a shadow, have it do one thing - Telekinesis, Requires Shadows at Target Location
* Animate a shadow, have it fight for you - Summon, Loyal, Requires Shadows
* Partially insubstantial - Damage Reduction, Not vs Light-Based or Holy attacks

**Ninja-Bear** · Jan 12th, '12, 04:00 PM

Nice list Ice9 ! You covered anything I was going to suggest and added a bunch more that I like!

**Shadowsoul** · Jan 13th, '12, 08:01 AM

I did create a character sheet for a Shadow. Which was a cat-like shadow demon from Devil May Cry 1.

You can find the HDC, (5er), file on this page of the currently defunct thread 'Shadowsoul's Monster Corner'. (Guess who started that one).

But here is the text and character sheet re-produced.

Shadow

Genre High Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Sword and Sorcery.

Background Evil demons that once haunted ancient battlegrounds and added their own killing sprees to the general slaughter. In modern times they lurk in places where battle or murder were once commonplace and dream of the lost glories of the past.

Personality/Motivation Shadows are all about killing things. What they do the rest of the time is of little interest, possibly even to themselves.

Powers/Tactics The keys to a Shadow's attacks are mobility and range. Although they prefer the form of a huge panther Shadows can stretch and shift their bodies into an unlimited number of shapes and use this ability to strike at their opponent from a distance and often from an unexpected direction. They will also use their runnning, leaping and clinging powers to outflank or ambush opponents. One favoured tactic is for the Shadow to compress itself down into a dark pool not much thicker than a real shadow and send out a long tendril of darkness that drives spikes upwards into their opponent's body from ground level. Shadows attack without fear and will continue to fight even if badly wounded or surrounded.

Campaign Use Shadows can be used as a 'random encounter' in ruins, castles, dungeons, catacombs, old battlefields and other unpleasant or gothic areas. In plot terms a Shadow could be the manifestation of the malice in a cursed or haunted area, (in which case a ritual may be required to force it to manifest). Alternatively they make fine pets and guard dogs, (cats), for evil sorcerers and necromancers. Also a good summon for a Shadow Mage regardless of his morality.

Quote (Unexplained rock music plays in the background as the PCs fight it).

Appearance Shadow beast in the form of a big black panther with glowing red eyes. Also a pool of shadow, a huge spike or a ball of lighter shadow, (when stunned or unconscious).

Val Char Base Cost
20 STR 10 10
18 DEX 10 24
16 CON 10 12
18 BODY 10 16
13 INT 10 3
13 EGO 10 6
20 PRE 10 10
10 COM 10 0
4 PD 4 0
3 ED 3 0
3 SPD 2.8 2
7 REC 7 0
32 END 32 0
36 STUN 36 0
12" RUN 6 12
2" SWIM 2 0

8" LEAP 4 0

Pts. Power END
45 Shadowshift Attacks: Multipower, 45-point reserve
4u 1) Spike: Hand To Hand Killing Attack 2d6 (2 1/2d6 w/STR), Armor Piercing (+1/2) (45 Active Points) 4
3u 2) Leap/Charge: Hand-To-Hand Attack +6d6, Reduced Endurance (0 END; +1/2) (45 Active Points); Hand-To-Hand Attack (-1/2), Conditional Power Must move at least 6" (-1/4) 0
2u 3) Rake/Trispike: Killing Attack - Hand-To-Hand 1d6+1 (2d6+1 w/STR), Autofire (3 shots; +1/4) (25 Active Points) 2
28 Molten Shadow: Shape Shift (Sight and Touch Groups, any shape), Instant Change, Reduced Endurance (0 END; +1/2) (57 Active Points); Limited Power Can not change colour or texture (-1) 0
7 Shadow Slide: Clinging (normal STR) (10 Active Points); Linked (Molten Shadow; -1/2) 0
2 Shadow Armour: Damage Resistance (4 PD/3 ED) (3 Active Points); Nonpersistent (-1/4) 0
30 Attenuation: Stretching 6", Reduced Endurance (0 END; +1/2) (45 Active Points); No Velocity Damage (-1/4), no Noncombat Stretching (-1/4) 0
4 Leaping +4" (8" forward, 4" upward) 1
Power Cost: 125

Pts. Skill Roll
3 Acrobatics 13- 13-
6 +2 Shadow attacks
6 Penalty Skill Levels: +4 vs. Autofire with Rake/Trispike
3 Breakfall 13- 13-
3 Concealment 12- 12-
2 KS: Warfare 11- 11-
3 Stealth 13- 13-
Skill Cost: 26

Pts. Talents
14 Fearless
Talent Cost: 14

Disadvantages Pts
Susceptibility: Strong Light 1d6 damage per Phase (Common) 20
Physical Limitation: Cannot cross certain mystical barriers (Infrequently, Greatly Impairing) 10
Physical Limitation: Greatly Limited Manipulation (Frequently, Greatly Impairing) 15
Vulnerability: 1 1/2 x STUN Fire (Common) 10
Vulnerability: 1 1/2 x BODY Fire (Common) 10

165 Abilities Cost
95 + Characteristics Cost
260 = Total Cost
Base Points: 195
Disads Total +65
Total Cost 260

Design Notes As I said this is not an exact match to the original monster but I've tried to make it a little more versatile. One ability which I left out is a virtual invulnerability to HtH damage while conscious. This power can be built as 10 points of Resistant PD combined with 75% Physical Damage Reduction, Resistant. (Nonpersistent, Only against melee attacks).

I added in the Vulnerabilities to make the Shadow more a creature of darkness. They can be removed to make it more versatile/formidable. Psy lims such as 'Murderous', 'Utterly Evil' or 'Loyal to greater demons' make good replacements for these Disadvantages.

**Badger** · Jan 13th, '12, 11:25 PM

One option for a twist would be copying from Fullmetal Alchemist and the battle with Pride where they eliminated all light and rendered him useless (you need some light for shadows).

Of course, unless a character has special abilities, he will also be useless.

Note: Actually, Pride might make for a good resource in the character creation.

**Vamphyr1** · Jan 20th, '12, 04:35 AM

Thanks for all the help guys!

I will definitely be working off of all these powers, and with the Pride fight from FMA in mind. If the creature is submerged in total darkness, all his inherent powers would stop, but that wouldn't change the fact that he would still be a hulking monster with inhuman strength and vision that cuts through any darkness.